Indicating device



Feb. 7, 1939 H. BERNHoLz -ET AI.

INDIGATING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed April l5, 1937 I I I 5 l 7g INVNTORS BY y x- ATTORNEYS.

Feb.` 7, 1939. H. BERNHoLz ET A.

INDICATING DEVI CE Filed April l5, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 vb 6 s m n fo m. f l f X l 0 `2i 3 .8- 6- 2 8 I n 2 .I M w 0 .b &3 2 .w f n.. .2. m.. 3/ l r P/ J. 8 2(/1 )l w. m.. r. n n W.. V A0v 3. uw 2 2 INVENTOR.

BY.. a? r.

ATTO EYS.

Patented Feb. 7, 1939 PATENT OFFICE INDICATING DEVICE.-

Hei-.man Bernholz, New York, and J` ames Sullivan,

' Flushing, N. Y.

Application AprilV 15, 193.7', Serial No. 136,994

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an indicating device and more specifically to acomparative indicating device.

In general, it is an. object .of the invention to 5. provide a device of the character described, which will efciently perform the purposesv for which it is intended, which is simple and economical of construction, which can be expeditiously, conveniently, and safely manipulated, andwhich can la be readil;r manufactured and. assembled.

Another object is to provide anv indicating device adapted for giving. successive values of a predetermined ,datumy associated' with some predetermined object, subject, ore-vent, which values l: may be visibly compared withother successive values of some other predetermined datum associated with some other, or the same, predetermined object, subject, or event; tov provide such a device with a set of norms, goals, etc., one associated with each oi the variable datum indicators; to provide such a device with afplurality of interchangeablev sets of norms and with a plurality of interchangeable scales for diierent types of values; to provide such a device the principal indicating units of which are removable; and to provide such a -device which is light and thin.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter. The invention accordingly comprises an article of manufacture possessing the features, properties and the relation of elements which will be exemplied in the article hereinafter described and the scope o1 the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailedV description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in

CAD

` which:

Figure l is a plan view, with portions cut away to various levels, of a device embodying one form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sidewise sectional view in elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1, and taken along the line 2-2 oi Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view in elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1 and taken along the line 3 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspectiveview of one of the removable units shown as removed and without its index, its cover, and Without the heading element;

Fig. 5'is a view similar to Fig. 4 except that the index and heading element are shown; and

(Cl. IIB-) Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing a unitI with its index, its cover, and a heading element extending through the unit.

In the drawings, I0 denotes a back or base having a rim I2 which extends upward on three sides. 5 The rim on the fourth side (not shown) is remov able so that the elements to be described and lying on the base may be slid off. A ledge I4 is positioned: on top of the rim I2 and extends somewhat centrally of the device so as to leave a 1n space thereunder into which other elements may be caught. 'Ihese elements. or units l5 extend from one side to the other of the device and are caughty at each end under ledge I4. There is a plurality of these units which are slid onto the 15 base II) from the open'side where the rim is removed.

Each unit has its` own base I8, lengthwise side walls 2I1, end walls 22, a cover 24 and an index 26. The cover` 24 has an opening 28 which extends 2Q about half of the length of the unit. The index 26 lies on the base I8 between the side walls 26 and is slidable so. as to show more or less through the opening 28. The cover 24 of each unit is also provided with another, preferably smaller, open- 25 ing 30 between the opening 28 and one end of the unit. The side walls 20 have apertures 32 therein, giving a passageway through each unit from sideto side and so positioned that the passageway is in registry with the opening 30 in the unit 30 cover. There may be a cross-bar 34 running from one side wall to the other and assisting in dening the said passageway. There may be indicia on the cover 24 adjacent the opening 28 to show how far the index 26 has been or is to be 35 moved.

'Ihe indices 26 may be flat strips of material. There is one index in each unit. The index lies on the base I8 between the side walls 26. It is covered on top at least in part by the cover 24 o of the unit. It is slidable longitudinally on the base I8 of the unit and hence it is visible to a varying extent through the opening 28 of the cover of th-e unit. The index is caused to slide by pushing an instrument which has been inserted 45 through the opening 28 against the index. An operator can use his ringer to do this.

An element 36 for carrying headings extends through the passageway provided by the various apertures 32 in the various units. It also extends 50 out through an opening in the detachable side wall or rim, which rim is not shown.

There may be a unit |24 of the same length as the others but without an index or an opening 28. This special unit may have a scale placed thereon and this unit may be positioned on one side of the other indicating unit. Y

An upper sheet 38 is inserted under the ledge I4 and on top of all of the units I6. It has a window 40 therein through which as many units as desired may be seen. Usually, only the parts of the units which show the indices are exposed. The sheet 38 may also have a plurality of smaller Windows 42 which are in registry with the openings 33 in the various units. Sheet 38 may be provided with any desirable indicia, those shown in the drawings being Boston, Helena Troy, etc. Y

Those units I6, which are not needed at any particular time, may be turned up side down so that the base I8 of the unit is uppermost.

The following is one Way of using the abovedescribed indicating device. Let it be supposed that there is some fluctuating datum connected with the various cities, Boston, Helena, Troy, etc. Then, at any one predetermined time, for example, the first of the month, the index for each city may be moved to show either the value of datum as of that day, or what percentage that datum is of some predetermined norm. On the element 36 is marked, at the proper positions, some correlated figure for each city, for example, the maximum for the datum being considered. By looking through the little window 42, one then p can tell what the maximum value for Boston is and what percentage of that the datum gives at the moment. Similarly for the other indices. When it is desired to consider some other datum, a different element 36 is slid into place, or a different set of indicia are supplied on the one element 36 but so positioned Ythereon that they are brought into view through the respective windows 42 by a sliding motion of the element 36.

It will be recognized that the present device is most useful for illustrating and maintaining statistical reportsyprogress charts, stock records, etc. the-minute record is desired of the status of any It is available to all fields where an up-tovarying event, especially where thereV is a goal,`

par, or norm. It can be used in inventories, in sales, or in charity campaigns, etc.

All of the various parts may be made of light card board.

Since certain changes may be made in the Y above article and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter y invention which, as a matter of language, might y be said to fall therebetween.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: Y K

1. An indicating device comprising a supporting structure, a plurality of indicating units, each of said units providing a chamber and having an indicating unit in said chamber and providing a passageway, in registry with the passageways in the others of said units, and an opening into said passageway, and a removable element extending through said passageways and visible through said openings. f

2. An indicating device comprising a supporting structure, a plurality of indicating units, each of said units providing a chamber closed except for an opening in the top thereof, and having an indicating unit in said chamber and longer than and visible through said opening, and providing a passageway, in registry with the passageways in the others of said units, and an opening into said passageway, and a removable element extending through said passageways and visible through said openings.v

, HERMAN .BERNI-IOLZ.

JAMES SULLIVAN. 

